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Frankfurt / Main (dpa) - FC Schalke 04 is back in crisis mode after the 1: 3 (1: 1) at Eintracht Frankfurt.
«We know the season won't be a sprint.
It's a marathon, ”was the slogan from head coach Christian Gross.
The weak performance on Sunday evening raised doubts as to whether the goal of staying in the Bundesliga class by the last matchday on May 22nd could be achieved.
As early as Wednesday it should become clear whether the bottom of the table can at least compete with the sixteenth in the league, 1. FC Köln, or whether the only win against TSG Hoffenheim (4-0) was just a slip up.
"Against Cologne is a really big game for us," said goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann, who prevented an even bigger defeat on the Main and emphasized: "We gave everything we can."
However, if this was all that the professionals from the Ruhr area have to offer, it will also be difficult against the Cologne team.
After all, the Royal Blues only shot five times at the opposing goal in a good 90 minutes.
After all, a shot by Matthew Hoppe (29th minute) made it 1: 1.
Shortly before, André Silva had put the Frankfurt team in the lead.
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Of all people, Luka Jovic, who was sold to Real Madrid two years ago for around 60 million euros and now on loan, ensured the Hessians win.
The 23-year-old Serb made a fantastic comeback on the Main with a double (72./90.+1).
"He didn't play for Real for any reason," Gross also paid him tribute.
At the same time he made his team an obligation to do more for the offensive: "I expect that in the future we will attack with more vehemence and develop more pressure on the flanks."
The Swiss does not seem to believe that this is possible with the existing staff alone, which is why he is hoping for the commitment of goal scorer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar from Ajax Amsterdam before the Cologne game.
"I don't know the exact status," said Gross, but underlined: "He has a royal blue heart and can help us."
Schalke sports director Jochen Schneider reacted cautiously as to whether and when the commitment and return of the 37-year-old striker should be announced.
«We will announce something when there is something to announce.
The next few days, maybe, ”he said.
The Dutchman Huntelaar had scored a total of 126 competitive goals for Schalke from 2010 to 2017.
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Schneider was not only monosyllabic when it came to this possible transfer.
He was equally taciturn when asked about a report by the “Kicker”, according to which the 04 supervisory board would look for a successor for him “in the short to medium term”.
"The supervisory board is not working to find a successor for Jochen Schneider," said the chairman of the supervisory board, Jens Buchta.
Rather, Schneider is entrusted with “working with us to find a sports director for our club”.
In the short term, Schalke must first get on track without the help of a sports director in order to avoid that the bankruptcy at Eintracht is not the beginning of a negative series again.
Before the sense of achievement against Hoffenheim, they were 30 games without a win.
"You have to get the defeat out of your mind quickly," said midfielder Mark Uth.
"On Wednesday we have a very important game against Cologne that we absolutely want to win."
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210118-99-65344 / 2